Show Off Your Studio: Franky Wah builds big house beats in rural England
The DJ and producer shows us what gear he used to make his new album, The Revival, Vol 1.
Key kit
- Native Instruments Komplete S-49
- Moog Sub 37
- Sequential Prophet 08
- Access Virus
- Roland TR-8S
- Novation Peak
How do you use your studio, Franky?
I use it to write all my music, I wrote the Revival Volume 1 and You Don’t Know there, which is my latest body of work, and I also hire it out to other producers.
Tell us more about the studio!
I set this studio up in January 2016 after working in the industry for a while and compromising in very limited spaces. I really believed having the right workspace would help take my work to another level and I felt it has. It’s based in a rural area called the Isle of Axholme about 20 minutes outside of Doncaster, Yorkshire.
Which DAW do you use?
Logic Pro X. I think I went straight into Logic because all of my friends were using it and a production mentor of mine it was using it too.
What’s been the biggest investment in your studio?
I think it would have to be my Focal Trio speakers – they were really expensive but so worth it. The sound I’m able to get out of them now is so good!
Which bits of gear/instruments were essential in the creation of your new single, Come Together?
The track is totally driven by a piano riff so it would definitely have to be the piano.
Awesome work on the BBCR1 Big Weekend performance. How did you make that work, and have you done much collaboration during lockdown?
Thank you, this was definitely one of the highlights of lockdown for me and was such a huge honour to be involved. The location was simple because it was my friends land but it just took a bit of working out to film effectively.
What is your favourite piece of gear?
This changes from time to time depending on what kind of mood I’m in but right now it would have to be the Moog Sub 37.
What atmosphere do you try and create in the studio?
Chilled and relaxed. I light my candles, put some Planet Earth on the TV in the background and let the production process happen as naturally as possible.
How does the studio environment help you with your creativity?
It’s so important – your mood and mindset will always determine the music you make.
What is your dream piece of gear?
An SSL desk, just so I can sit behind it like an executive producer [laughs]!
What is your top piece of production advice?
Be yourself and make music YOU like.
What is the one piece of advice you would give someone starting out building a studio?
Build it up slowly and add bits as you go on. I rushed it and invested on a few pieces of gear which I have no use for.
You’ve been recognised for bodybuilding as well as DJing. Do you find any similarities between the gym and the studio?
Absolutely, both require immense amounts of discipline, dedication and consistency. Getting in shape and being able to make good music doesn’t happen overnight. There are no short cuts, just hard work and consistency!
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